Take-up apparatus



March 27, 1951 'E. D. HANSON ET AL 2,546,636

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS E D.HANSON G. E HEA/N/NG 5. M MA RT/N ATTORNEY fi March 27, 1951 E. D.HANSON ET AL 2,546,636

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 23, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v /M/EA/T0R5 E. 0;HANSON G. E. HE NN/NG 5 M MAR 77N BY F A 7' TOR/VEV 6 N6 3 5 S N 6, Amwww y A W M "On T 2 5M w A 50.53 4 B E. D. HANSON ET AL TAKEUP APPARATUMarch 27, 1951 Flled July 23, 1.948

March 27, 195

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 //VVEN mm 5. 0.HANSON a. 5. HfNN/NG 5. M. MART/N ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1951TAKE-UP APPARATUS Estyle l). Hanson, George E. Henning, and Samuel M.Martin, Baltimore, Md, assignors to Western Electric Company,Incorporated, New York, N. Y.. a corporation of New York ApplicationJuly 23, 1948, Serial No. 40,226

20 Claims.

This invention relates to takeup apparatus, and more particularly toapparatus for continuously winding strands, such as, for example,insulated conductors.

In strand forming and processing operations,

' like must be substituted for the filled takeup apparatus or a switchfrom one reel to another is inade, it usually has been necessary to shutdown the processing apparatus during such a substitution or switching.Such interruptions of the process increase the cost of production of thestrand, and, in the case of extrusion and vulcanization of insulatedcoverings upon conductors, the portions of the coverings remaining inthe vulcanizing apparatus during the interruptions are overcured so thatthe corresponding portions of the insulated conductors must be scrapped.Some continuously operable takeup apparatus have been proposed in thepast, but this apparatus has been dangerous and generallyunsatisfactory.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved takeupapparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus for continuously winding thereon strands, such as, forexample, insulated conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide new improved strand takeupapparatus for substantially automatically switching a strand from onetakeup reel to another without interrupting the winding process.

A takeup apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention mayinclude a coiling elehent, a second coiling element, means for retatingthe coiling elements, means for guiding a strand along a predeterminedpath near to and past the first-mentioned coiling element to thesecond-mentioned coiling element, a snagger revolved with thefirst-mentioned coiling element movable from a position at the end ofand not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a positionextending over that coiling element, means for holding the snagger in aposition not extending over the first-rnentioned reeling element. andmeans selectively operable for pu hing the snagger over thefirst-mentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in the revoluon of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strandguided past the first-mentioned coiling element.

A complete understanding of the invention Lil may be obtained from thefollowing detailed description of an apparatus forming a specificembodiment thereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of an apparatus forming oneembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, plan View of a portion of the apparatus shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vation taken along line 3-3 of Fig.2 tions thereof, broken away;

i is a fragmentary, vertical section taken along line i4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of the apparatus withportions broken away;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view taken along line l-'i ofFig. 6, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a conductive core to (Fig. l)is advanced from one of two supply reels l2-l2 by a capstan l4, and ispulled through an extruder l5, a continuous vulcanizing tube 18 intandem with the eX- truder it, around a guide sheave l9, and through acooling trough by the dual capstan M. The extruder it forms an insulatedcovering 2 on the conductive core it to form an insulated conductor 2E,and the insulated conductor is con tinuously introduced into thevulcanizing tube it, which vulcanizes the covering 24 as the conductor26 is advanced therethrough.

The conductor is advanced from the cap- Stan i l to a continuous takeupunit and is advanced over a distributor sheave 32 or a dist ibutor aseither to a takeup reel mechanism 36 operable in one direction or atakeup reel mechanism 38 which is similar to the mecha- 323 but operatesin an opposite direction. The distributor sheave is mounted rotatably onan arm as (Fig. 3) carried by a distributor front elewith porhead Z2(Fig. 2) supported slidably on a shaft A l so that the distributorsheave 32 is moved along the reel st to distribute the conductor 26 uponthe reel of the takeup reel mechanism which is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3. When the distributorsheave 32 reaches its furthermost near the flange 53 position, actuatingpin 6%; carried by the distributor head strikes an arm as of a limit chi=3 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor and thedistributor screw 52, whereby the distributor screw moves the head 42and the sheave 32 toward a flange 56 of the reel 6 to form another layerof the conductor on the takeup reel 6 When the sheave 32 reaches itsfurthermost pos tion near the flange ts, an actuating rod ll strikes anarm '52 of a limit switch it to again reverse the direction of rotationof the motor 65 and the distributor screw E2. The actuating rods 35 andH are mounted slidably in bosses l5 and '58 respectively, formed on aplate ll? of the distrbutor head 52. The positions of the rods and iimay be adjusted by a thumb screw extending through a tapped bore 82 inthe plate is and tapped bores 88 and 83 formed in and 92, respectively,which are rigi ly secured to the actuating rods 35 and H. Thus, thelength of throw of the distributor may be adjusted.

A hand wheel 85 is keyed to the shaft which carries two pinions, ofwhich a pinion 95 (Fig. 3) is shown. The pinions St-Et engage the racksEL-52 of the guide rods 5Q5 l. The hand wheel 9% may be rotated torotate the shaft 3% and the p nions 85-435 to move the slides 38-43along tr e rods to the right to the left, viewed in Fig. thereby movingthe distributor sheave 32 with respect to the takeup reel mechanisms 35and 3B. A pivoted latch lil l may be actuated manually to lock thedistributor t l in any desired position on the guide rods tail-5t.Normally, while the covered conductor 28 is wound on the takeup reelmechanism 3%, the distributor 3 is in the broken-line position thereofshown in Fig. 3, and the conductor 2% follows apath shown in brokenlines to the reel 6%. When the reel 5d is almost filled the latch its isreleased and the hand wheel is actuated to move the distributor 3 to thefull-line position thereof. This changes the path of the conductor fromthe distributor sheave 32 to the reel from that shown by theabove-mentioned broken-line to the reel 6 to the path thereof shown infull lines. The portion of this path of the conductor '26 between pointsA and B forms a chord with respect to flanges l&9lcii of a reel iii! ofthe takeup reel mechanism 38, which reel is rotated when driven in aclockwise direction,

viewed in Fig. 3.

An electric motor H6 (Fig. l) of the takeup reel mechanism 38 then isenergized to start the rotation of the reel HQ. The motor H5 rotates acentering cone Ed by a b the reel pin ill and an arm H8 in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3, and a freely rotatable centering cone!22 (Fig. 4) connected to the reel lit by a pin 25 and a guard 52:! isrotated by the reel. The centering cone 222 is retated by the reel Hi3rotates the guard i2 3 therewith. The guard lfi i carr es an L-shapedsnagger 528 pivotally thereon and the snagger has a snagging notch 138formed therein. The sngger IE8 is designed to slide through a slot 2'32formed in the guard. 52-6. An arm lit of the snagger i223 carries afollower roller 33, and normally held by a spring 534 in a retractedposition in which the snagging portion of the 52% does not extend beyondthe near flange of the reel iii}. A presser earn 135 carried. by an arm3 pivotally mounted on a bearing it'l, and is operable by a lever 53% toa position engaging the roller I33 to move the snagger iZS furtherupwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, to a position extending beyond the innerflange of the reel Ht shortly after the snagger passes the point A (Fig.3). However, as the snagger passes point A the cam does not push thesnagger beyond the near reel flange his and against the spring its butacts to hold the snagger in its retracted position so that the snaggerclears the conductor 25 whenever the conductor is near that flange ofthe reel as the snagger approaches the portion of the conductor 25 atthe point A.

When the distributor sheave 32 advances the conductor 26, which subtendsa portion of the flanges of the reel lid, to a position in which theconductor is near the right hand flange of the reel, as viewed in Fig.4, and the lever 38 has been actuated to push the snagger against thespring 53 5-, the snagger clears the portion of he conductor at point A(Fi 3), is moved over the conductor between the points A and B, catchesthe portion of the conductor at B in the otch 239 (Fig. 7) and pulls theconductor downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 3. The takeup reel {i icontinues to be rotated and to wind the conductor 25 thereon, and theportion of the conductor between the snagger and the reel 55 is moveddownwardly. The inrunning reel E i and the snagger i2$ move the portionof the conductor therebetween downwardly hard against a shear blade ilii to sever the conductor.

The snagger E28 continues to rotate with the reel Hi? and thedistributor 3 distributes the conductor 25 on the reel l H! as thesnagger is rotated beyond the point B (Fig. 3) to somewhere near point Cwhere the snagger moves out of engagement with the cam, and the springE34 moves the snagger back to a position in which it does not extendover the flange of the reel i it. The snagger continues to hold theconductor so that the conductor is wound on the reel H5. The lever 33then is released and the snagger is moved to its retracted position bythe spring 234 to clear the portion of the conductor 25 being advancedto the reel HS. Thus, after the winding has been started on the reel Htas described hereinabove, there is no danger of resnagging the conductor26.

After the reel 5 ill has been filled the distributor 3 is moved to itsbroken-line position and the above-described operation in connectionwith starting and winding of the conductor 26 on the reel lid isrepeated to shear the conductor and start the conductor on the reel 64by means of a snagger and its associated elements which form a portionof the takeup reel mechanism 36, which is identical with the takeupmechanism 38 except that the mechanism is a left hand mechanism whilethe mechanism 38 is a right hand mechanism.

The motor H6 (Fig. 4) is mounted on a slide ill! mounted on a guidewayI12, and a bearing ll l supporting the centering cone lZ-fi also iscarried by the slide llil. After the reel llil has been filled and theconductor 26 is severed therefrom, the motor lie is deenergized and alinkil is moved so as to actuate a valve 18 to supply air under pressureto the right hand end of a cylinder l fi, as viewed in Fig. 4, and topivot a latch i532 secured rigidly to a shaft I8 out of a slot 588formed in the slide Hi] so that the slide may be slid to the left by apiston lei fastened to the slideto free the reel HE; for removal. Afteran empty reel to be substituted for the reel Hi! has been positionedbetween the centering cones I28 and I22, the linkage H6 is moved. toactuate the valve I18 to supply air under pressure to the left end ofthe cylinder 5'85 and to permit the latch 182 to move into the slot I 88whenever the slot N38 is moved thereover. The piston then moves theslide 18 to mount the empty reel on the centering cones I20 and I22, andthe latch moves into the slot H38 to latch the slide in an operativeposition.

Operation The insulated conductor is advanced over the sheave 32 of thedistributor mechanism 3%, which is in its broken-line position, asviewed in Fig. 3, to the reel 64 of the takeup reel mechanism 33, themotors 66 and 65 are started. the reel 55 is rotated, and thedistributor as distributes the conductor 23 in layers extending fromflange to flange of the reel When the reel 54 is almost filled, anoperator of the apparatus releases the latch Hi l mov s he distributormechanism 3 to the left to its full-line pos tion. The operator thenstarts the motor HEB (Fig. to rotate the reel iii in an inrunningdirection with respect to the direction of rotation of the reel es. andthe distributor L l continues to distribute the conductor evenly uponthe reel When the reel 54 is filled, the operator a the lever 13% (Fig.4) to swing the cam iBfi 1. left, as viewed in Fig. 4:. The snagger 523then is moved from a position at the edge of the right hand flan e ofthe reel l H! to the position of the snagger 28 shown in Fig. 5 afterthe snagger has passed point A (Fig. 3) and has not yet come to point B.After the sna ger is rotated past point C the follower roller L33 movesit back to a positicn in which it does not extend beyond the innerflange H39 of the reel Hi! When the distributor sheave 32 moves theconductor 2 to the right hand flan e of the reel i it, as viewed in Fig.4, the snagger 12?? catches the conductor 2% and moves the portion ofthe conductor between the snagger and the reel i i against the shearblade 14%, which severs the conductor.

The lever I33 then is released so that the spring 535 moves the snagger25 to its retracted position. The snagger continues to hold the newlyformed end of the conductor and carries it around the drum of the reel liii, and the distributor 3 distributes the conductor on that reel.

The operator then stops the takeuc reel mechanism 35, removes the filledreel li i therefrom, end substitutes an empty reel identical with thereel 84 for the reel '54. When the reel l iii i filled with theconductor 26, the switchover to the empty reel of the takeup reelmechanism is effooted by a snagger and its associated elements of thereel mechanism which are identical with. but of opposite hand from thesnagger lES its associated elements of the talreup mechanisn 32, aftermoving the distributor 34 to its brokenline position, as shown in Fig.3, so that a por tion of the conductor 25 between the sheave 32 and thetakeup reel lid s in a plane chordally intersecting the flanges of thereel of the takeup mechanism 35 to permit the conductor to be snagged.

The above-described talaeup mechanism serves. to continuously take upthe conductor 2% witho t interruption in or slowing of operation so thatthe operation of the extruder l6 and the vulcanization is not evenslowed down. The transfer from one takeup mechanism to the other isalmost completely automatic inasmuch as the only manual effort.necessary to make a transfer from too one takeup reel mechanism to theother is to move the distributor mechanism 34 to the proper position, tostart the idle takeup reel mechanism, to actuate the cam of the idletakeup mechanism and to release the cam after the transfer has beenmade. There is no danger to'an operator of the apparatus since thesnaggers are covered and accidental contact therewith is blocked.

Certain features of the above-described apparatus are disclosed andclaimed in copending application Serial No. 40,290, filed July 23, 1948,by D. C. Robson.

What is claimed is:

l. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the secondnentioned coilin. element,snagger revolved continuously with the first-moi .ioned coiling elementand movable from a position at one end of and not extending over thefirst-mentioned coiling element to a posiion extending over that coilingelement, means for: holding the snagger in a position not extending overthe first-mentioned coiling element, and selectively operable means forpushing the snagger over the first-mentioned coiling element at apredetermined point in the revolution of the snagger, whereby thesnagger catches the portion of the strand guided pa st thefirst-mentioned coiling element.

2. A talzeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling means for rotating the coiling e3 merits, means for guidingstrand along a predetermined path near to and past the first-mentionedcoiling element to the second-me tioned coiling element, snaggerrevolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling element andmovable from a posit n at one end and not extending over thefirst-mentioned comng element to a position e-.tending over that cciiingelement, means for rging the snagger to a position not extending overthe first-mentioned coiling element, means for pushing the snaggeragainst the snagger-urging means to the position in. which it extendsover the firstinentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion ofthe strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, a cutterpositioned in the path in which the portion of the strand between thesnagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by the snaggerfor severing the strand.

3. A taheup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element,a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling elementand movable from a position at one end of and not extending over thefirst-mentioned coiling element to a position extending over thatcoiling element, means normally operable for urging the snagger to aposition not extending over the first-mentioned coiling element, andmeans selectively operable for pushing the snagger against the action ofthe snaggenurging means to the position in which it extends over thefirst-mentioned coiling element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion ofthe strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element.

4. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of reels, means forrotating the reels, a snagger provided with a strand catching andgripping portion revolved continuously with one of the reels, a camselectively operable for moving the snagger over the last-mentionedreel, means selectively operable for guiding a strand past one of thereels to the other reel into the path of the snagger, and a cutter sopositioned with respect to the snagger that the portion of the strand between the snagger and the reel to which the strand is guided is movedinto engagement with the cutter and severed.

5. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of transversely alignedreels, means for rotating the reels, means for guiding a strand past oneof the reels to the other reel, a snagger provided with astrand-catching-and-gripping portion revolved continuously with the reelpast which a strand is guided, a cutter positioned between the snaggerand the other reel, and a selectively oper able cam for projecting thestrand-catching-andgripping portion beyond the flange of the reel pastwhich the strand is guided to catch and grip the strand, whereby theportion of the strand between the snagger and the reel to which thestrand is guided is moved into engagement with the cutter and severed.

6. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of transversely alignedreels, means for rotating the reels in inrunning directions, means forguiding a strand past one of the reels to the other reel, a snaggerprovided with a strand catching and gripping portion revolvedcontinuously with the reel past which a strand is guided, a cutterpositioned between the snagger and the other reel, and selectivelyoperable means for projecting the strand-catching-and-gripping portionbeyond the flange or" the reel past which the strand is guided to catchand grip the strand, whereby the portion of the strand between thesnagger and the reel to which the strand is guided is moved intoengagement with the cutter and severed.

'7. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable takeup unit, asecond rotatable takeup unit, means for rotating the units on parallelaxes and for mounting the units in transversely aligned positions, meansfor guiding a strand past the first-mentioned takeup unit to thesecondmentioned takeup unit, a snagger carried continuously with thefirst-mentioned talreup unit and movable from a position with respect tothat unit in which the strand is not engaged thereby 'to a position inwhich the strand is snagged thereby, means for urging the snagger towardthe first-mentioned position thereof, and an actuator selectivelyoperable for moving the snagger against the snagger-urging means to theposition of the snagger in which the snagger snags the strand.

8. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a winding element, means forrotating the winding element, a snagger carried continuously by one endof the winding element and movable from a retracted position in whichthe snagger does not project over the winding element to a snaggingposition in which the Snagger does project over the winding element,means for urging the snagger toward the retracted position thereof inwhich the snagger does project over the winding element, and meansselectively operable for moving the snagger for a predetermined portionof the revolution of the snagger to the snagging position thereof inwhich it projects over the winding element so that the snagger clearsone portion of a strand guided chordally with respect to the path of thesnagger and catches a second portion of the strand.

9. A takeup appartus, which comprises a rotatable winding element, meansfor rotating the winding element, an L-shaped snagger carriedcontinuously and pivotally by one end of the winding element and havinga strand-snagging portion movable from a retracted position in whichthat portion does not project over the winding element to a snaggingposition in which it does project over the winding element, means forguiding a strand in a plane chordal with respect to the path of thestrand-snagging portion of the snagger, means for urging thestrandsnagging portion of the snagger to the retracted position thereof,and a cam selectively operable for projecting the strand-snaggingportion of the snagger over the winding element as the strand snaggingportion approaches a predetermined portion or" the strand.

10. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a reel, means engaging one endof the reel for rotating the reel-mounting means for enga ing the otherend of the reel and rotatable thereby, a snagger extendin radiallybeyond the reel, carried continuously with the reel by the reel-mountingmeans and movable from a retracted position in which the snagger doesnot project over the more adjacent head of the reel to a snaggingposition in which the snagger does project over the more adjacent headof the reel, means for urging the snagger to its retracted position, andmeans selectively operable for moving the snagger to the snaggingposition thereof for a predetermined portion of the revolution of thesnagger.

11. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, asecond rotatable reel element, means mounting the reeling elements intransversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements ininrunning directions, an arm carried continuously with and mountedpivotally at the end of the first-mentioned reeling element, a sn: ggercarried by the arm and extending substantially parallel to axis ofrotation of the first mentioned reeling element and radially outside hatreeling element so that the snagger is projected over that reelingelement when the arm is pivoted toward that reeling element, saidsnagc-eing revolved in a predetermined circular ath beyond the radiallimits of the first-mentioned reeling element, a distributor adjustabletransversely to the axes of rotation of the reeling element fordistributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling element and forguiding the strand to the second-mentioned reeling element in a planechordally intersecting the path of the snagger, means for urging thesnagger to a retracted position beyond the near end of thefirst-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved past the portionof the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersectingthe path of the snagger so that the snag er clears that portion of thestrand, and means seiectively operable for moving the snagger to asnagging position extending over the near end of the firstmentionedreeling element after the snagger has been moved past the portion or"the strand entering said portion of said plane and before the snaggerhas been moved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of saidplane and for holding the snagger in its snagging position as thesnagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves saidportion of the plane so that the snagger catches and grips the strand asthe strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reelingelement 12. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reelingelement, a second rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reelingelements in transversely aligned positions for rotating the reelingelements in inrunning directions, a snagger rotatable continuously withthe firstmentioned reeling element and having a snagging portionextending substantially parallel to axis of rotation of thefirst-mentioned reeling element and radially outside that reelingelement, means mounting the snagger for movement relative to thefirst-mentioned reeling element such that the snagging portion isprojected over that reeling element when the snagger is moved towardthat reeling element, the snagging portion of the snagger being revolvedin a predetermined substantially circular path beyond the radial nits ofthe first-mentioned reeling element, a dish ibutor for distributing astrand upon the secondmentioned reeling element and for guiding thestrand to second-mentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cuttingthe path of the snagger, means for urging the snagger to a retractedposinon in which the snagging portion thereof is beyond the near end ofthe first-mentioned reeling element as the snagging portion is movedpast the portion of the strand entering the portion of the planechordally intersecting the path of the snagging portion so that thesnagging portion clears that portion of the strand, a manually operablecam for moving the snagger to a snag ging position in which the sn ggingportion extends over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling elementafter the snagging portion been moved past the portion of the strandenterportion of said plane and before the snagging portion has beenmoved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said planeand for holding the snagging portion in the position extending over thenear end or" the first-mentioned reeling element as the snagging portionis moved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portionof the plane so that the snagging portion catches and grips the strandas the strand is moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reelingelement, and a cutter positioned outside the circular path of thesnagging portion and in the path in which the portion or" the strandbetween the snagger and the second-mentioned reeling element is moved oythe snagger for severing the strand.

13. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, asecond rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements intransversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements ininrunning directions, a snagger carried continuously with thefirstmentioned reeling element at an end thereof and extendingsubstantially parallel to or" rotation of the first-mentioned reelingelement and radially outside that reeling element, the snagger beingprojectable over the first-mentioned reeling element and being revolvedin a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits of thefirst-mentioned reeling element, a distributor movable transversely tothe axis of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strandupon the second-mentioned reeling ele ment and for guiding the strand tothe secondmentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cutting thepath of the snagger, means for preventing snagging action of the snaggeras the snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering theportion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, andcam selectively operable for actuating the snagger after it been movedpast the portion of the strand entering said portion of said plane andbefore the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strand leavingsaid portion of said plane for holding the snagger in the positionextending over the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element asthe snagger is moved to and past the point at which the strand leavessaid portion ofthe plane so that the snagger catches grips the strand asthe strand is i.ioved past the near end of the first-mentioned reelingele ment.

l i. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a second.coiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-'nentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coilingelement, a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentionedcoiling element and movable from a position at the end of and notextending over the first-mentioned coiling element to a positionextending over that coiling element, means for holding the snagger aposition not extending over the firstmentioned reeling element,selectively operable means for pushing the snagger over thefirstmentioned coiling element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion ofthe strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, and a cutterpositioned in the path in which the portion of the strand between thesnagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by the snaggerfor severing the strand.

15. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element,a snagger revolved continuously with the first-mentioned coiling elementand movable from a position at the end of and not extendin over the.Lrst-inentiOn-ed coiling element to a position extending over thatcoiling element, means n mally operable for urging the snagger to aposition not extending over the first-mentioned reeling element, meansselectively operable for pushing the snagger against the action of thesnag gear-urging means to the position in which it extends over thefirst-mentioned reeling element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion ofthe strand guided past the first-mentioned coiling element, and acutterpositioned in the path in which the portion of the strand betweenthe snagger and the second-mentioned coiling element is moved by thesnagger for severing the strand. I

16. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable takeup unit, asecond rotatable takeup unit, means for rotating the units on parallelaxes and for mounting the units in. transversely aligned positions,means for guiding a strand past the first-mentioned takeup unit to thesecondmentioned talrcup unit, a snagger carried continuously with thefirst-mentioned takeup unit and movable from a position with respect tothat unit in which the strand is not engaged thereby to a position inwhich the strand is snagged ll thereby, means for urging the snaggertoward the nrst-mentioned position thereof, an actuator selectivelyoperable for moving the snagger against the snagger-urging means to theposition of the snagger in which the snagger snags the strand, and acutter over which the strand is moved by the snagger for severin thestrand.

17. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, asecond rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements intransversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements ininrunning directions, an arm carried continuously with and mountedpivotally at the end of the first-mentioned reeling element, a snaggercarried by the arm and extending substantially parallel to axis ofrotation of the first-mentioned reeling element and radiall outside thatreelin element so that the snagger is projected over that reelingelement when the arm is pivoted toward that reeling element, saidsnagger being revolved in a predetermined circular path beyond theradial limits of the first-mentined reeling element, a distributoradjustable transversely to the axes of rotation of the reeling elementfor distributing a strand upon the second-mentioned reeling element andfor guiding the strand to the secondmentioned reeling element a planechordally intersecting the path of the snagger, means for urging thesnagg r to a retracted position beyond the near end of thefirst-mentioned reeling element as the snagger is moved past the portionof the strand entering the portion of the plane chordally intersectingthe of the snagger so that the snagger clears that portion of thestrand, means selectively operable for moving snag ger to a snaggingposition extending over the near end of the first-mentioned reelingelement after the snagger has been moved past the portion of the strandentering said portion of said plane and before the snagger has beenmoved to the portion of the strand leaving said portion of said planeand for holding the snagger in its snagging position as the snagger ismoved to and past the point at which the strand leaves said portion ofthe plane so that the snagger catches and grips the strand as the strandis moved past the near end of the first-mentioned reeling element, and acutter positioned outside the circular path of the snagger in the pathin which the portion of the strand between the snagger and thesecond-mentioned reeling element is moved by the snagger for severingthe strand.

18. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, asecond rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements intransversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements ininrunning directions, a snagger carried continuously with thefirstmentioned reeling element at an end thereof and extendingsubstantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the first-mentionedreeling element and radially outside that reeling element, the snaggerbeing projectable over the first-mentioned reeling element and beingrevolved in a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits ofthe first-mentioned reeling element, a distributor movable transverselyto the axis of rotation of the reeling element for distributing a strandupon the second-mentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand tothe secondmentioned reeling element in a plane chordally cutting thepath of the snagger, means for preventing snagging action of the snaggeras the l2 snagger is moved past the portion of the strand entering theportion of the plane chordally intersecting the path of the snagger, cammeans selectively operable for actuating the snagger after it has beenmoved past the portion of the strand entering said portion of said planeand before the snagger has been moved to the portion of the strandleaving said portion of said plane and for holding the snagger in theposition extending over the near end of the first-mentioned reelingelement as the snagger is moved to and past the point at which thestrand leaves said portion of the plane so that the snagger catches andgrips the strand as the strand is moved past the near end of thefirst-mentioned reeling element, and a cutter positioned outside thecircular path of the snagger in the path in which the portion of thestrand between the snagger and the second-mentioned reeling element ismoved by the snagger for severing the strand.

19. A strand takeup apparatus, which comprises a reel, means forrotating the reel, means connected to one end of the reel and rotatedcontinuously with the reel, an L-shaped snagger provided with astrand-catching notch formed in one arm thereof and having one end ofthe other arm thereof pivotally connected to the lastmentioned means ina position in which the snagger lies in a plane chordal with respect tothe reel and movable between a snagging position in which thefirst-mentioned arm projects over the portion of the reel most adjacentthereto and a retracted position in which the first-mentioned ar a doesnot extend over that portion of the reel, means normally urging thesnagger to its retracted position, cam means carried by the snagger, amanually operable pusher having cam means positioned adjacent to apredetermined portion of the path of the first-mentioned earn means andcooperable with the first-mentioned cam means for pressing the snaggerto its snagging position, means for guiding a strand adjacent to thesnagger, and means for severing a strand snagged by the snagger.

20. A strand takeup apparatus, which coniprises a reel, means forrotating the reel, a disc connected to one end of the reel and rotatedcontinuously with the reel, 3, snagger provided with a strand catchingnotch mounted on the disc, carried continuously therewith, and movablebetween a snagging position in which the snagger projects over theportion or" the reel most adjacent thereto and a retracted position inwhich the snagger does not extend over that portion of the reel, meansnormally urging the snagger to its retracted position, cam means carriedby the snagger, a manually operable pusher having cam means positionedadjacent to a predetermined portion of the path of the firstmentionedcam means and cooperable with the first-mentioned cam means for pressingthe snagger to its snagging position, means for guiding a strandadjacent to the snagger, and means for severing a strand snagged by thesnagger.

ESTYLE D. HANSON. GEORGE E, HENNING. SAMUEL M. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED lhe following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,393,286 Hosford Oct. 11, 19212,424,021 Cook July 15, 1947

